Medicare Beneficiaries With SMI Who Used Telemental Health Services More Likely To Receive Follow-Up Care After Psychiatric Hospitalization

Medicare beneficiaries with serious mental illness (SMI) and who had access to telehealth mental health services (telemental) from 2010 to 2018 had higher rates of follow-up care after discharge from a psychiatric hospitalization for psychosis. Those who used telemental services had more contact, overall, with outpatient specialty mental health professionals. However, use of telemental services was not associated with improvements in medication adherence, except among those beneficiaries who were eligible for Medicare. Mental health hospitalizations increased among those using telemental health services during the same time period.

Between 2010 and 2018, Medicare telehealth services, including telemental services were only . . .